The Proteas - Our Team!

[Agent_Smith]

From cricinfo

Hashim Amla's moved up four places to sixth in the latest ICC rankings for Test batsmen after he struck 134 in his hundredth Test in Johannesburg. Kagiso Rabada, meanwhile, moved up three spots to fifth in the Test bowling rankings after returning match figures of 5 for 94.

Amla, who became only the eighth batsman to score a century in his 100th Test, had earlier dropped to tenth after a string of poor performances in 2016. He had moved to first in the Test rankings back in February 2013 and at one point had held top positions in both the ODI and Test rankings.

Rabada's strong performances in the series against Sri Lanka made him South Africa's highest-ranked Test bowler, moving him one place above Dale Steyn, who is recuperating from the shoulder fracture he suffered during South Africa's tour of Australia in November. Rabada's ten-wicket haul in the second Test in Cape Town had earlier helped him break into the top ten.

Australia captain Steven Smith continued to lead the Test rankings for batsmen while India's R Ashwin topped the bowlers' rankings.

 

[Baxteen]

for all those doubting him.
AB is not ready for test cricket yet

He has also made himself unavailable for any T20 leagues, except the IPL.

 

[karnuffel]

for all those doubting him.
AB is not ready for test cricket yet

Personally I think there is a massive burden on AB. For one he needs to hit the ground running and perform well enough to justify the place in the team (not that I doubt it), but as fans we've come to expect some really super performances from him and would like to see moar... Basically he is a victim of his own success IMHO.

 

[Agent_Smith]

Elgar heads overseas, turns down Kolpak deal

Dean Elgar has resisted the temptation to join the exodus from South African cricket with a Kolpak deal and has agreed instead to rejoin Somerset as an overseas player.

Elgar, an opening batsman in the South Africa Test side, is understood to have rejected the opportunity to join other counties as a Kolpak registration and will return to the team he represented in 2013. That means he has committed his future to South Africa as a Test player.

That will come as a huge relief to supporters of South Africa who have recently seen Kyle Abbott (Hampshire), Hardus Viljoen (Derbyshire), Simon Harmer (Essex), Rilee Rossouw (Hampshire) and Stiaan van Zyl (Sussex) sign Kolpak deals which have ruled them out of international cricket for the immediate future.

 

[Baxteen]

Personally I think there is a massive burden on AB. For one he needs to hit the ground running and perform well enough to justify the place in the team (not that I doubt it), but as fans we've come to expect some really super performances from him and would like to see moar... Basically he is a victim of his own success IMHO.

agreed

 

[stefan9]

All respect him is gone. Picking and choosing when to play is unacceptable. If you are fit you are available the the coach/captain decides whether you play.

He has lost all respect with this primadonna attitude. Wouldn't pick for any format due to this.

 

[Ho3n3r]

All respect him is gone. Picking and choosing when to play is unacceptable. If you are fit you are available the the coach/captain decides whether you play.

He has lost all respect with this primadonna attitude. Wouldn't pick for any format due to this.

Jirre but you overreact to every decision a player makes, it seems. Let them make their own choices man.

It's clear his body is getting older, he needs to use the little bit he has left wisely.

 

[Arzy]

I personally still don't think we'll see AB playing for SA again.

I just need to quote myself on this in response to the new announcement.

 

[Ho3n3r]

I just need to quote myself on this in response to the new announcement.

:erm:

To prove yourself wrong?

 

[karnuffel]

All respect him is gone. Picking and choosing when to play is unacceptable. If you are fit you are available the the coach/captain decides whether you play.

He has lost all respect with this primadonna attitude. Wouldn't pick for any format due to this.

Its not like he is choosing to play some games and not play others, he chose to not return just yet. Also, as said before, it might also be that he wants to be home for the birth of his second child.... Also, if he feels his elbow is not ready then it is his decision not to play. He is a human not our possession.

Do you have respect left for anyone, seeing as you lose it so quickly?

 

[Wall]

Its not like he is choosing to play some games and not play others, he chose to not return just yet. Also, as said before, it might also be that he wants to be home for the birth of his second child.... Also, if he feels his elbow is not ready then it is his decision not to play. He is a human not our possession.

Do you have respect left for anyone, seeing as you lose it so quickly?

yeah but he will be ready for the IPL and the champions trophy, no doubt. He's picking and choosing - let's not mask that fact.

 

[Arzy]

:erm:

To prove yourself wrong?

Well he's basically ruled himself out for test cricket this entire year so were'e already looking at 2+ years without him if he decides to start playing again in 2018.

 

[karnuffel]

yeah but he will be ready for the IPL and the champions trophy, no doubt. He's picking and choosing - let's not mask that fact.

He chose not to play test cricket yet. Comparing the strain that someting like test cricket will put on your body to that of T20 quite silly... Dont you think fitness is also a factor here? These guys are playing a lot of cricket and I think easing into it is a wise decision.

 

[Baxteen]

yeah but he will be ready for the IPL and the champions trophy, no doubt. He's picking and choosing - let's not mask that fact.

no he is choosing not to play the longest format while he is recovering.

he is choosing to play for longer time wize not match wize, I dont get why people make this out like he is picking IPL over test cricket, he is choosing T20 and ODI over test cricekt.

the IPL will be before the Champions trophy, and he will be fit and healthy and playing well again.

this is for the greater good, of his health, of the team, and thus of the country, I see no greedy here

 

[stefan9]

Its not like he is choosing to play some games and not play others, he chose to not return just yet. Also, as said before, it might also be that he wants to be home for the birth of his second child.... Also, if he feels his elbow is not ready then it is his decision not to play. He is a human not our possession.

Do you have respect left for anyone, seeing as you lose it so quickly?

He is actually picking and choosing. Making himself available for ipl and odi's and t20's but not test cricket till next SA summer.

I have respect for all players who continuing to present SA with full 100% commitment.

Jirre but you overreact to every decision a player makes, it seems. Let them make their own choices man.

It's clear his body is getting older, he needs to use the little bit he has left wisely.

If they want to make their own choices should have taken up an individual sport. In a team sport the team should come first. If you are fit you should make yourself available and then its up to the captain/coach whether you play.

 

[Ho3n3r]

Well he's basically ruled himself out for test cricket this entire year so were'e already looking at 2+ years without him if he decides to start playing again in 2018.

Did you misread your own post? You said he'll never play for SA again.

 

[modern10]

When is Russell Domingo going to get credit. Team is flourishing at the moment. If we were losing we wouldn't have heard enough of we have a **** coach.

 

[Ho3n3r]

He is actually picking and choosing. Making himself available for ipl and odi's and t20's but not test cricket till next SA summer.

I have respect for all players who continuing to present SA with full 100% commitment.

If they want to make their own choices should have taken up an individual sport. In a team sport the team should come first. If you are fit you should make yourself available and then its up to the captain/coach whether you play.

I don't think you know how professional sport works...

First rule: "Always listen to your body".

 

[karnuffel]

I don't think you know how professional sport works...

First rule: "Always listen to your body".

A beerworthy post indeed....

 

[Wall]

no he is choosing not to play the longest format while he is recovering.

he is choosing to play for longer time wize not match wize, I dont get why people make this out like he is picking IPL over test cricket, he is choosing T20 and ODI over test cricekt.

the IPL will be before the Champions trophy, and he will be fit and healthy and playing well again.

this is for the greater good, of his health, of the team, and thus of the country, I see no greedy here

Recovering?

The surgeon said it will be normal. I'm feeling really confident."